President & CEO, South Carolina Ports Authority
Jim Newsome is the President and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority in Charleston, SC. He assumed that role on September 1, 2009 and is only the fifth leader in the history of the port. He is also currently the longest serving leader of a major container port in the United States with eight years in his position.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Newsome had an extensive career in the ocean container shipping industry as below:
- Hapag-Lloyd AG (1997-2009)
- President – Region Americas – Piscataway, NJ (2009)
- Senior Vice President – Area Southeast – Atlanta, GA (1997-2008)
- Nedlloyd Lines (1987-1997)
- Executive Vice President of the Americas – Atlanta, GA (1994-1997)
- President -Nedlloyd Lines USA Corp. – Atlanta, GA (1992-1993)
- Senior Vice President – Nedlloyd Lines USA Corp. – Atlanta, GA (1990-1991)
- Vice President, Liner Services – Nedlloyd Lines USA Corp. – Atlanta, GA (1987-1989)
- Strachan Shipping Company (1977-1987)
- President – Hoegh Lines Agency Subsidiary – Jersey City, NY (1986-1987)
- Assistant Vice President – Northeast – New York, NY (1984-1985)
- General Manager – Atlanticargo Division – Houston, TX (1980-1983)
- Container Yard Manager – Strachan Stevedoring – Houston, TX (1979)
- Line Manager – Strachan Shipping – Houston, TX (1977-1978)
He was the first American to assume the top roles in the United States for both Hapag-Lloyd and Nedlloyd Lines.
Mr. Newsome received a BS in Transportation and Logistics in 1976 and a MBA in Transportation and Logistics in 1977 from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. He was the top graduate in the College of Business Administration for Winter Quarter, 1976. He was named the Outstanding Alumnus in Transportation and Logistics in 1992.
Mr. Newsome has received several other awards and honors:
- Agriculture Transportation Coalition, Person of the Year, 2016
- South Carolina Public Servant of the Year, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, 2014
- Doctor of Humane Letters, The College of Charleston, 2014
- Connie Award, The Containerization and Intermodal Institute, 2010 (for significant influence in containerization in worldwide trade)
He is involved in numerous organizations:
- University of Tennessee, College of Business Administration, Dean’s Advisory Council
- University of Tennessee, Global Supply Chain Institute, Executive Advisory Board
- University of Tennessee, College of Business Administration, 1914 Society
- The College of Charleston, School of Business, Board of Governors
- Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Children’s Hospital Fund Advisory Board
- Intermodal Association of North America, Board of Directors, Marine Division
- Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT), Board of Directors
- American Heart Association, Lowcountry Heart Walk, Executive Leadership Team and Past Chairman
- Trident United Way, Tocqueville Society
Mr. Newsome is a native of Savannah, GA, where his father was an executive with the Georgia Ports Authority. He has been married for 32 years (wife Kathy) and has two children and one grandchild. His daughter, Rachel (30), is a counselor in Nashville, TN, married to Jason Smith, who is getting his PhD in theology at Vanderbilt University (both University of Georgia undergrads). They are the proud parents of Amelia Rose Smith, born May 4, 2016. His son, Matt (26), is a fourth-year medical student at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston (undergrad at UNC Chapel Hill) and is currently applying for a residency in urology at several hospitals.